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CASH CROPS
Among cash crops, fibre crops are specially important. Jute accounts for the maximum area and turn out among all the
cash crops. Orissa is the fourth largest producer of jute after West Bengal,
Bihar and Assam. Rice and jute, compete with each other as they require almost
similar soil and climatic conditions. Cultivation of jute is primarily confined
to the coastal plains of Cuttack, Balasore and Puri districts.
A considerable amount of Mesta is also cultivated. It dominates
in the districts of Cuttack, Ganjam, Balangir and Koraput districts.
Sugarcane is the second most important cash crop in Orissa in
area as well as production. It is grown in irrigated areas. Orissa stands eighth
in sugarcane production in India. A considerable amount of cultivation occurs in
Cuttack, Sambalpur, Balangir, Kalahandi and Puri districts, Orissa also produces
a small quantity of tobacco. In cash crop production, Cuttack district tops the list.
NEW CASH CROPS
Among the new cash crops, the most important is cashew which has
been planted extensively in the low level latiritic plateaus at the foothills of
the Eastern Ghats. These cashew plantations are mostly confined to Cuttack, Puri
and Ganjam districts. The Cashew Plantation Board is responsible for the
development of cashew cultivation in the state. Cashew is also being planted on
the sand-dunes on the entire coastal belt. This is because of the suitable
edaphic and climatic conditions in these areas. On the degraded and
deforested hills of the Eastern Ghats, cashew is planted to check soil erosion.
As a result, Orissa is earning a lot of foreign exchange by exporting cashew
through Paradeep.
RUBBER PLANTATIONS
To protect the degraded hill slopes of Eastern
Ghats,
rubber plantation have been taken up by Rubber Board. Bright prospect for the
growth and development of natural rubber exist in the northern Orissa -
Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar and Baleshwar due to favourable agro-climatic conditions.
Orissa is a non-traditional area for rubber plantations. Inland hill areas of
Cuttack, Puri, Ganjam and Dhenkanal districts have agro-climatic conditions
suitable for rubber cultivation.
COTTON CULTIVATION
Cotton cultivation has been taken up extensively in
Koraput,
Balangir and Kalahandi districts where suitable soil and climate conditions are
found. Sea island cotton can be grown in the Ballipal region of Baleswar
district.
TEA
It is concentrated in areas of Eastern
Ghats, Kendujhar,
mountainous region of Phulbani and Koraput.
COFFEE
It is concentrated in forest lands of Eastern
Ghats, Koraput, Kalhandi, Malkangiri, Rayagada, G.Udayagiri and Balliguda areas of
Kanohanthal district.
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